Exerciser.



N. PSZY'STAS.

EXERCISER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1914- 1,133,746. Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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WITNESSES: "'n'lll BY flaw A TTOR NE V46,

re) STATES ATENT orrion.

NICHOLAS PSZYSTAS, 0F WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

Application filed April 9, 1914. 7 Serial No. 830,689.

members to carry said supports through cir cular paths centering on the axes of'said revoluble members, a fan operating simultaneously with the other movable parts, and means to actuate orjdrive the rotary, elements without the assistance of theperson in the machine, all as hereinafter set'forth.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the class mentioned above, which is highly efficient in exercising and developing the muscles, lungs, and other parts of the human body to a degree that is lastingly invigorating, strengthening, and healthful, such apparatus being simple in construction and operation, strong and durable, and practicable in all respects.

This apparatus or exerciser requires but little floor space, and is compact as a whole, so that it can be set up and used in any room of ordinary size.

As a means for aerating, exercising, expanding, and strengthening the lungs, my machine is especially and peculiarly well adapted.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the followingdescription.

I attain the objects and secure the advantages of my invention by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of a practical form of embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse verticalsection through the same, the shoulder-brace strap being omitted; Fig. 3, a front elevation of a modified form of the exerciser, and, Fig. 4, a transverse vertical section through the latter. 7

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The two constructions of the exerciser hereln shown and particularly described are to be considered as practical types which are.

susceptible to such modification or change as may upon occasion be required in order to meet varying conditions, wherefore I do not desire or intend tooclosely to confine or restrict myself to such types.

1A suitableframe is provided for either type of my exerciser,which frame consists of abase 1, base blocks 2 and 3, spaced uprights 4: and 5 rising from the block 2, spaced uprights 6 and 7 rising from the block 3, and a bar 8 connecting said uprights 5, 6 and 7 at the top.

. Referring now to the apparatus illustrated in the first two views, it will be observed that a pair of shafts 9 is suitably journaled in the uprights 4 and 5, one of such shafts being directly above the other and each belng provided at its inner endwith a rigidly attached crank-arm 10, and that a pair of longer shafts 11 is suitably j ournaled in the.

uprights 6 and 7, each of said last-mentioned shafts being axially in line with one of said shafts 9, and also provided at the inner end with a rigidly attached crank-arm 10. The ends of the crank-arm 10, in each pair, that are most remote from the supporting shafts 9 and 11, are rigidly connected by means of a rod 12. Loosely mounted on the lower rod 12 is a foot support 13, and loosely mounted on the upper rod 12 is a hand roller or support 14. Each shaft 11 projects some dis tance beyond the outside of the upright 7, and a crank 15 is rigidly attached to the outer end of such projecting part. Secured to each shaft 11, between the uprights 6 and 7, is a sprocket-wheel 16, and a sprocketchain 17 connects the two sprocket-wheels. By means of the sprocket-Wheels 16 and the sprocket-chain 17 the supports 13 and 14.- are maintained in the same position relative to each other, or the two pairs of crank-arms 10 are caused to assume always the same or corresponding angles to a given plane, and both shafts 11 and connected movable parts can be driven by means of either crank 15.

A pulley 18 is secured on one of the shafts V 11, the lower one in this case,,t0 which a motor may be belted for driving the mechanism.

In order to make the apparatus adjustable 'so that it will fit persons who differ in height and in other dimensions, a plurality" of bearing openings may be made in the uprights 4-5 and 67 for the shafts 9 and "11, two sets of such supplementary openings appearing at 19, in Fig. 2, and a plurality of openings may be provided in the crank-arms 10 forthe rods 12, as shown at 20. In this manner may be obtained a sufficiently wide range of adjustment for all practical purposes.

A' shoulder-brace, strap 21 may be provided if desired, the same being attached at the ends to the roller or support 14;.

A fan 22 has'a shaft 23 which is suitably journaled in the uprights 5, 6 and 7 just below the top bar 8. The shaft 23 with the fan22 is drivenat a suficiently high rate of speed from the upper shaft 11, through themedium of a large pulley 2 1 on said last-mentioned shaft, a smallpulley25 on said fan shaft, and a connecting belt 26. It is clear from the foregoing that the motion imparted to the upper shaft 11 is transmitted to the fan 22, in consequence of which a breeze is created-for the benefit and comfort of the person using the exerciser,

and a' draught or'circulation of air produced that is suflicient to supply such person with all the fresh air he can possibly take into his lungs. The fan 22 is located above the head of theperson using the apparatus, or over a horizontal plane above which such persons' head does not pass, but during the exercising process the head approaches said fan, passes through the more violently agitated air nearer said fan, and

then recedes orpasses farther away, to again approach and repeat the operations or motions on the cycle as often as maybe desired or expedient.

In practice, a person takes his position in the machine, with his feet on the foot- 7 board or support 13, the strap 21 around circles or passing through circular orbits.

Practicallyv all the muscles of the body in general are brought into play during the operation of the machine, the action of the heart and the circulation of the blood are accelerated, respiration is increased, and a from the air currents created by the fan22 which is driven from the upper shaft 11.

'At'the'end of the period of exercise, the power whether manual or mechanical is discontinued, the supports 13and 14 are permitted to come to rest at their gravity points, and the person'who has just taken the exercise'steps out of the machine. The

exertion put forth, by an assistant or assistants at the cranks 15 is, of course, good exercise for and beneficial to such assistant or assistants.

Thefoots'upport be providedwith a .pair of toe-holds 27, bolted at 2 8 to thetop of-said support,

.In the present constructiomthe i 13 is secured by means-of a p'airof clamps 29 and bolts 30 to a roller which is loosely mounted directlyon the lower rod '12 and is' similarto the roller 14. j r j WVith the exceptions and additionsnot'ed i below, the same elements arepresentin the exerciser .illustrated in the lastltwo views as in that illustrated in the first two views. In place of .the lower crank-arms 10 a pair of large disks 31 is employed, and in: place of the upper crank-arms 10 a pair of smaller,

disks 32 is employed. l Rods 1 2 connect the two pairs of disks 31 and 32,- and said rods serve a similar purpose to that ofthe'cor-v responding rods in the other. machine, and

function ina similar manner. A chair, con- V sisting of a foot support 33, a "seat34, and a back 35, and a pair of straps 36, are here provided and supported from the rods '12, said footsupport being loosely mounted directly .on the lower rod 12, and said straps passing through openings 37 v in the top of said backand overthe roller 1 L onthe upper rod 12. Projecting from each edge of the chair back 35 is a pin or lug '39 which enters a groove 40 formed in the inner face of each disk 31 to receive such lug, such groove being concentric with the lower rod 12, The

oflice of the lugs 39 is to steady the chair as the latter is actuated by the mechanism which carries it. This second construction is provided with the disks 3 1 and32 and the chair in order that the same shall be. more stable and safer thanthe other. Here the person taking the exercise seats himself in the chair and grasps the hand support 14:, while an assistant or assistants operate the machine by means of one or both cranks 15, or a motor is employed, as in the other case.

This appliancemay be termed an .in-

valid exerciser. 7 The person in the invalid exerciser receives the benefits to be derived from the motions imparted; by the lOWGI rod 12 to the foot support 33,the upper rod 1 2 to the hand support 14, andthe said two rods to the chair as a Whole, and from the air circulated by the fan 22, but is spared practically all efi'ort in obtaining these movements and this extra air supply. The foot support 33 may be provided With toeholds, similar to the toe-holds 27, if it be deemed necessary.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination, in an exerciser, of a frame, two pairs of alining shafts mounted,

one pair above the other, in said frame, and provided With crank members, foot and hand supports carried by said crank members, said foot support being provided With a back and a seat, and supporting members between said hand support and said back.

NICHOLAS PszYsTAs.

Witnesses:

F. A. CUTTER, JOHN F. SANLAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

-Washington, D. G. 

